Note 62 — Chapter II · THE MEANS OF CONDUCTING WAR

“In the year 1870 the greatest mildness was practised on the German side towards the French fortresses. At the beginning of the siege of Strassburg it was announced to the French Commander that free passage was granted to the women, the children, and the sick, a favor which General Uhrich rejected, and the offer of which he very wisely did not make known to the population. And when later three delegates of the Swiss Federal Council sought permission in accordance with the resolution of the Conference at Olten, of September 7th, to carry food to the civil population in Strassburg and to conduct non-combatants out of the town over the frontier, both requests were willingly granted by the besieger and four thousand inhabitants left the fortress as a result of this permission. Lastly, the besiegers of Belfort granted to the women, children, aged, and sick, free passage to Switzerland, not indeed immediately at the moment chosen by the commander Denfert, but indeed soon after” (Dahn, I, p. 89). Two days after the bombardment of Bitsch had begun (September 11th) the townsfolk begged for free passage out of the town. This was, indeed, officially refused; but, none the less, by the indulgence of the besieger, it was effected by a great number of townspeople. Something like one-half of the 2,700 souls of the civil population, including the richest and most respectable, left the town (Irle, die Festung Bitsch. Beiträge zur Landes- und Völkerkunde von Elsass-Lothringen).